Fresno council takes step toward pot-growing ban

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — The Fresno City Council has taken a major step toward prohibiting the cultivation of marijuana.

The Fresno Bee reports councilmembers voted Thursday to introduce a ban on growing pot indoors and in specific outdoor areas that had the required permit. The council at a later date will be asked to adopt the changes.

The action will make growing marijuana illegal everywhere in Fresno. There will be fines for anyone with plants in the ground beyond the abatement deadline — 120 days after the ban's adoption.

Police Chief Jerry Dyer said the ban is a matter of public safety. He said officers in the past year have investigated 317 complaints of marijuana cultivation.

In January Fresno County became California's first county to ban all pot cultivation. Supervisors cited incidents of violent crime linked to marijuana farming operations.